sp hers;
but it was Waldron that spoke first:

"Where is he going?--how?"

"Oh, with us, major. We go to-morrow, and they go with us. My sister has
some reason--I cannot fathom it. She wants them away from here, and
Clancy's discharge came to-day. He _must_ see him first," she said,
indicating Mr. Hayne by the nod of her pretty head. "They say Clancy has
run off and got away from his wife. He doesn't want to be discharged.
They cannot find him now; but perhaps Mr. Hayne can.--Mr. Hayne, try to.
You--you must."

"Indeed we must, Hayne, and quick about it," said the major. "Now is our
chance, I verily believe. Let us get the doctor first; then little Kate
will best know where to look for Clancy. Come, man, get your overcoat."
And he hastened to the hall.

Hayne followed as though in a dream, reached the threshold, turned,
looked back, made one quick step toward Miss Travers with outstretched
hand, then checked himself as suddenly. His yearning eyes seemed
fastened on her burning face, his lips quivered with the intensity of
his emotion. She raised her eyes and gave him one quick look, half
entreaty, half command; he seemed ineffectually struggling to speak,--to
thank her. One moment of irresolution, then, without a word of any kind,
he sprang to the door. She carried his parting glance in her heart of
hearts all night long. There was no mistaking what it told.

XVII.

The morning report of the following day showed some items under the head
of "Alterations" that involved several of the soldier characters of this
story. Ex-Sergeant Clancy had been dropped from the column of present
"on daily duty" and taken up on that of absent without leave. Lieutenant
Hayne was also reported absent. Dr. Pease and Lieutenant Billings drove
into the garrison from town just before the cavalry trumpets were
sounding first call for guard-mounting, and the adjutant sent one of the
musicians to give his compliments to Mr. Royce and ask him to mount the
guard for him, as he had just returned and had important business with
the colonel. The doctor and the adjutant together went into the
colonel's quarters, and for the first time on record the commanding
officer was not at the desk in his office when the shoulder-straps began
to gather for the _matinee_.

Ten minutes after the usual time the adjutant darted in and plunged with
his characteristic impetuosity into the pile of passes and other papers
stacked up by the sergeant-major a